Much like their wheelchair design has made it easier and more comfortable for users to get around in an urban environment, SoftWheel hopes the Fluent wheel can do the same thing for cyclists. The way they describe how the wheel absorbs shocks claims that they are especially effective at abrupt sharp edge obstacles like riding up and down stairs. Since the rim can variably move in the direction of each impact (as opposed to a typical fork which can only telescope up and down, or a rear suspension setup which is confined to the axle path determined by its layout), it is better suited to the wide range of actual impacts your normally encounter.
Previously on bespoken we’ve featured articles on manual and motorised chairs which help the user negotiate uneven streets and rougher pathway, but a lot of them have been both expensive and a bit impractical for day-to-day use. A new Kickstarter, Loopwheels, addresses this problem with a simple and far more affordable design. Loopwheels contain integral suspension meaning the wheels absorb more shock than a standard wheel and allow the user to negotiate tougher terrains with greater ease and comfort. The Kickstarter also says that they can be fitted onto most standard wheelchairs. Following up from a successful campaign to raise funds for the Loopwheel as a bike wheel, this latest project has already raised over half of its £16,000 goal with 28 days left to go.

Hey kids, here's a surefire way to make your parents construct an advent calendar counting down the days until you go back to school next fall. The Turbospoke system, a battery-free, pedal-powered child's dream, fits...
Trike Asylum archival and resource material for human powered recumbent tricycles